PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Norman (ranked 1227 p4p, 2888 weight class) and Zack Allan Jr (ranked 118 p4p, 243 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Norman
vs
Allan Jr

173 cm
20
145
5 - 2 - 0

173 cm
20
155
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Conviction
Â© Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zack Allan Jr!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Both fighters circling a little - Allan Jr finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Allan Jr throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Norman shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Allan Jr manages to get to full guard.
Norman tries to free his leg and advance position but Allan Jr is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman looking to sit in guard and control but Allan Jr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Norman pulls Allan Jr in close to his closed guard and prevents Allan Jr from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Norman is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've been hearing good reports from Norman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Norman swings around for an armbar but Allan Jr sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Norman's guard.
Norman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Allan Jr is looking to stand up but Norman won't let him.
Norman controls Allan Jr momentarily but Allan Jr frees himself.
Norman wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norman looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Allan Jr passes into half guard.
Norman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Allan Jr is working away from the top position though.
Norman pushes Allan Jr off looking to stand but Allan Jr dives back in and keeps control.
Norman gets back to full guard.
Allan Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Norman trying to control the position.
Allan Jr passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Allan Jr wants to pass to mount but Norman is defending the position.
Norman moves into full guard.
Norman trying to control the position.
Norman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Allan Jr's guard.

Allan Jr has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Norman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Norman trying to control the position from guard on top but Allan Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman advances to half guard.
Allan Jr won't allow Norman to pass to mount.
Norman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Norman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Allan Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zack Allan Jr will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Norman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Allan Jr.
Allan Jr moves into range and connects with a jab.
Norman shoots in and drives through. Allan Jr sprawls well.
Norman looks for a takedown but Allan Jr sprawls well.

Norman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Norman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norman is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Allan Jr's shoulder. That is not cool.
Norman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Allan Jr keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norman is really struggling to control Allan Jr but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Allan Jr takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman takes a little break here. Allan Jr wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Allan Jr is looking to regain half guard here but Norman keeps moving and retains side control.
Norman passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Allan Jr!
Norman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Allan Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Norman is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Allan Jr can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Allan Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Allan Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Norman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Allan Jr defends it well.
Norman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Allan Jr is squirming around, avoiding Norman's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norman has control of Allan Jr's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Allan Jr regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Allan Jr has given up his back here. Will Norman look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Norman is looking for the choke from the back position but Allan Jr is controlling his hands well.
Norman has the hooks in. Allan Jr is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Norman goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Allan Jr escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Mark Norman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Norman is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Allan Jr wants to stand up but Norman is controlling the position.

Norman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Allan Jr pulls his head out easily.
Allan Jr trying to pass the guard but Norman defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norman gets back to full guard.
Allan Jr passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Norman will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Norman.
Allan Jr moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Norman looks for a takedown but Allan Jr sprawls well.
Norman with a poor takedown
and Allan Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Norman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norman throws a hook to the side of Allan Jr's head but Allan Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Norman gets tackled into the cage by Allan Jr. Allan Jr maintains the clinch.
Norman takes a knee to the side of the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Allan Jr landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Allan Jr works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Allan Jr crunches a lovely knee into Norman's ribcage.
Allan Jr working Norman over with knees to the body.
Allan Jr pushes Norman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Allan Jr prevents the takedown attempt.
Allan Jr scores a nice knee to the body.
Norman wants a takedown but no success here.
Allan Jr landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Allan Jr using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Allan Jr.
Allan Jr landing knees to the head.

It looks like Mark Norman has been cut.
Allan Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section. Norman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right handed body shot lands from Allan Jr.
Allan Jr with a knee to the head.
Allan Jr is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Allan Jr on the inside.
Allan Jr lands a knee to the body.
Allan Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Allan Jr digs a right hand into Norman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Norman's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Allan Jr lands a shot to the body.
Allan Jr working Norman over with knees to the body.
Allan Jr is working Norman over against the cage.
Allan Jr lands a body shot in the clinch.
Allan Jr landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Allan Jr obliges.
Allan Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section. Norman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A hook to the body from Allan Jr.
Norman misses with a punch on the inside.
Allan Jr lands a shot to the body.
Allan Jr is working Norman over against the cage.
A short uppercut from Allan Jr.
Allan Jr with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Allan Jr connects with a knee to the head.
Allan Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Allan Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Allan Jr.
Norman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Norman looking for a takedown.
Allan Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Allan Jr putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Norman in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Allan Jr scores with a knee to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Allan Jr.
Knees to the body from Allan Jr.
Knees to the body from Allan Jr.
Allan Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Allan Jr putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Norman in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Allan Jr connects with a nasty looking knee right to Norman's face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Allan Jr scores with a knee to the head.

Norman is rocked!
A short body shot lands from Allan Jr as the two fighters clinch.
Oh Norman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Allan Jr working Norman over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Allan Jr pushes Norman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Allan Jr lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A knee to the head by Allan Jr.
A short body shot lands from Allan Jr as the two fighters clinch.
Allan Jr working Norman over with knees to the body.
Norman takes a knee to the side of the body.
Norman seems to have got his legs back now.
Allan Jr connects with a knee to the head.
Allan Jr lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Allan Jr.

Norman has hold of one of Allan Jr's legs. Allan Jr is fighting the takedown attempt but Norman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Allan Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Allan Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norman trying to control the position from guard on top but Allan Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Allan Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Allan Jr has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!